The New Wharfedale Diamond 100's Punch Well Above Their Weight

Warmth without loss of detail, and exceptional good for long listening periods is how we would describe the new Wharfedale Diamonds.

We thought the last generation of loudspeakers were very good, but the new generation has taken a huge leap in peformance and have redefined the sound you can get for your money.

Regrdless of the model 121, 122, 155 we have found them to be very well balanced and musical.

The smaller standmounts offer impressive base extension for such small cabinets and becuase they are portedat the bottom offer great flexibility of placement, so can be placed up against a wall or in open space. The added bonus is also they work tremendously well in a home cinema set up, particularly when using the matching centre's.

They seem to work on pretty much every amplifier that we have paired them with and we have tried Heed, Naim, Arcam and Rega and all sound top notch.

We believe they offer exceptional value for money as entry level loudspeaker and if you are looking for new standmouts or floorstanders they should be high on your audition list.

We recommend them unreservedly, come and listen and hear for yourself.

 Jon, Farid & Audio Phil

New Musical Fidelity EB50 In Ear Headphones Available for Demonstration

We have Musical Fidelity's brand new in ear EB50 headphones available for demonstration in store.

We have a listening station so you can try them out with your phone or mp3 player before you buy!

If you're intending to spend just shy of £150 on a pair of headphones you need to be sure that they are comfortable and fit well and most importantly sound great before you part with your hard earned cash.

If you're looking for a pair of audiophile quality in ear headphones that sound great when you're out and about on your bike, at the gym or errr......whatever you're up to come in and and have a listen.

Don't take our word for it either. See the video and read the review here

Jon, Farid & Audio Phil

The New KEF E Series 5.1 Cinema System Does Not Disappoint

We have just received and opened the brand new E305 system from KEF and even out of the box I am gobsmacked!!

We had the KHT2005 system on the wall for many moons now but took it down as the new ones were coming.

Having demonstrated this system many times I know how good it sounds at its price point. Hearing about the new E305 system my first thought was that it will be marginally better and looks pretty but I was wrong. The upgrade is chalk and cheese!

Getting them out of the box and feeling the speaker, the finish and weight of them is exceedingly better than the previous model. Taking technology from the award winning R series and even Blade you can tell that KEF haven't held back!

Very simple swivel bracket on the bottom of the unit that can be modified to either sit on a stand/cabinet or to go on a wall is simple and effective. The turn of two small screws and you're done!

The subwoofer is a thing of beauty and doesn't sound too bad either! We are always sceptical of sub sat systems as the sub sometimes come up short so we would always recommend a Velodyne or a REL and while it isn't in dedicated subwoofer territory it isn't bad at all!

Keeping the settings the same on the amplifier for the previous system but just fine tuning the sub and it was instantly better. A much fuller and broader sound straight away was noticed by me and the customer. We were both in shock as to how good it was!

For £900 its a stylish sub/sat system that will be sure to win awards!

I am hopefully putting them on the wall today so pop down have a listen and let me know how you would like to pay ;-)

Danny

Audio-T,

30, Crown Street,

Brentwood

CM14 4BA

01277-264730

brentwood@audio-t.co.uk

Sennheiser's Exquisite HDVD-800 Headphone Amplifier/DAC

We are delighted to announce becoming a Sennheiser CLUB ORPHEUS dealer and the introduction of Sennheiser’s latest ‘must-have’ product for all prospective or existing owners of their ground-braking HD800 headphones.

The new HDVD-800 Digital Headphone Amplifier is custom designed to exactly match the characteristics of the HD800 (also compatible with HD700 & HD650) 

As you can see from the pictures this is a thing of real beauty. Housed in an exquisite extruded aluminium case with a see-through window showing off the high quality components and a proper potentiometer within. All bathed in a soft blue glow from the internal LEDs.

 

Of course this isn’t just a headphone amp but also a high quality 24bit/192KHz DAC featuring a Burr Brown chip-set. With multiple inputs both digital/USB and analogue it has a multitude of applications be it from a computer, a hifi system or direct from any other digital source. (See Sennheiser’s release notes and specifications below).

The HDVD-800 can also be used as a high-end sound card for your computer and output to a power amplifier via its balanced rear outputs.

Now, we always thought the HD800 were the finest headphones ever made (as did most of the press when they were launched a couple of years back) but frankly we had no idea they were this good.

I have never heard any headphones sound so natural and uncoloured before. So effortlessly dynamic yet lacking any harshness or edginess, they now sound incredibly spacious and musically compelling.

HDVD800 and HD800 are available exclusively from CLUB ORPHEUS dealers  

Why buy from a Club Orpheus member?

Exclusive access to our very best products

The confidence that you are buying from an approved Sennheiser specialist

Extended warranties on selected Sennheiser products in the Club Orpheus range

First-class dedicated customer service

Priority product support

Demonstration facilities with unparalleled expertise

STOP PRESS!

We just heard from Sennhesier yesterday they are to introduce a BALANCED output lead (to replace the existing lead provided with the phones) for the HD800, HD600 and HD650 (all different to suit each headphone) to take advantage of the amp’s balanced headphone output option. We were informed it’s a huge step up in performance. Can’t wait!

So taken are we with this that we now have it permanently wired up on demo so just pop in to experience headphone nirvana!

Simon

From Sennheiser UK:

Overview

With Sennheiser’s HDVD 800, sound is perfect. The HDVD 800 is able to connect with digital sources and is equipped with a high-quality Burr-Brown digital/analog converter (DAC) that converts digital audio data into analog signals with a resolution of 24 bits and a sampling rate of up to 192 kHz. This enables the HDVD 800 to transmit the entire frequency spectrum of high-end audio sources without any loss of frequencies. 

In addition to the symmetrical inputs, the HDVD 800 also has an asymmetrical input socket; incoming signals are symmetrized before further processing takes place. Digital sources can be connected to the rear of the unit via an XLR (AES/EBU) input, optical and coaxial (S/PDIF) digital inputs or USB. All digital inputs accept signals up to 24 bit at 192 KHz*. Designed and manufactured in Germany, this high-end, solid-state amplifier harmonize perfectly and deliver an ultimate acoustic performance when paired with any of Sennheiser’s audiophile headphones.

Features

0.D/A transducer for all common formats up to 24 bit / 192 kHz

0.D/A transducer can be used for CD and DVD players

0.AES/BU, S/PDIF, USB inputs

0.Symmetrical (XLR) and asymmetrical (RCA) analog inputs

0.Symmetrical output

Sockets for four sets of headphones (two of which symmetrical)

 

Technical Data

Technical Data and Specification of HDVD 800

Article No. 505590

Dimensions	(W x H x D): approx. 216 mm x 55 mm x 324 mm
Frequency response	0.3 Hz to 100 kHz (-3 dB)
THD, total harmonic distortion	< -110 dB (1 kHz / maximum gain)
Weight	2,2 Kg
Audio input	Analogue input XLR-3 : Max. input voltage 20 dBV / Input impedance 10 kOhm
	Analogue input RCA: Max. input voltage (eff) 14 dBV / Input impedance 10 kOhm
	Digital SPDIF (RCA): Max. sampling frequency 192 kHz /AES3-compatible) / Max. resolution 24 bit
	Digital SPDIF (TosLink): Max. sampling frequency: 192 kHz (AES3-compatible) Max. resolution: 24 bit
	Digital AES/EBU (XLR-3): Max. sampling frequency: 192 kHz (AES3-compatible) / Max. resolution: 24 bit
	USB (USB-B) USB standard: USB 2.0 / USB 3.0 USB audio class: USB Audio 2.0
Power consumption	9 W
Input voltage range	100 - 240 V AC / 50 - 60 Hz

Panasonic TXP65VT50B Clearance Bargain!

To make room for the imminent arrivals of new models we are offering our demonstration Panasonic TXP65VT50B plasma TV for the unbelievably low price of £1999.95, just half the original list price of £3999.95!

This TV offers stunning picture quality on a 65" screen suitably imposing to complement the best home cinema systems.  As it is wall mounted in our demonstration room it has had an easy life, being safely out of reach of little fingers!  It has only had occasional use for booked home cinema demonstrations and comes complete with box, manual, remote and all accessories.  We also include a free five year warranty for complete peace of mind.

We only have one of these fantastic plasma TVs at this crazy unrepeatable price so be quick as it won't be here for long! Please note that, at this price, the sale of this screen would be for collection only.

Naim CD5Si CD Player

Naim's new entry-level player has arrived at our store in Reading!

Benefitting from some major improvements over the previous model, the CD5Si can rightly claim to be THE player to audition at the £1K price point.

The improvements have had a dramatic effect on the overall performance of the machine, due in no small way to a new transport,DAC/Filter and upgraded power rails.

The end result is a supremely musical and engaging player,particularly when partnered with the Nait 5i integrated amp and suitable speakers.

Book your demo now!

Naim CD5si  £994.95

Keith

KEF E305 Home Cinema Package

After the demise of the KEF KHT 2005 and 3005 the new KEF E305 is not only a good replacement but an improvement. Matched with the Yamaha RXV 673 and Sony BDPS 790 it gives a dynamic sound without forgoing control. We tested the system with the Mines of Moria scene from "The fellowship of the ring", with out the need to crank the volume up to get the right effect the Yamaha gave the speakers plenty to do offering great detail and an enthralling, exciting sound stage.

 Musically Antonio Forcione sounded surprisingly good. Well detailed and rhythmic. 

The build quality and design of the E305 is what one would expect from KEF.  Very stylish in the flesh, the pictures don't do it justice, and the package has a good solid feel of quality and good engineering.

For a sub £900 speaker package the KEF E305 is at the very least a must listen if not a must have.

Listen To The Sonos Playbar Today!

So you've seen the advert, but how does it sound?

Find out today what its all about in one of our isolated demonstration rooms.

Listen to how good the Sonos Playbar sounds on its own...

Add the Sonos Sub to gain Scale & Authority! improving both music & movies

For those of you who want to fully transform the Sonos system into a 5.1 Surround sound, simply add the Sonos Play:3 as rear speakers...

and the best thing about all of this is theres no need to run cables! Each Sonos component just needs power!

Find out what all the fuss is about & book a demo today!

Audio-T Enfield

Tel: 0208 367 3132

Email: enfield@audio-t.co.uk

Music Begins At Forty......

Pro-Ac Response D Forty R

We are pleased announce the delivery of a pair of ProAc Response D Forty speakers.

For a limited time only, ProAc have very kindly loaned us a pair.

We plan to live with the speakers for few weeks and see what we think.

Early signs are very positive. Hooked up to a Rega Osiris amplifier and the Rega Isis CD they sound very impressive indeed. 

The Pro-Ac ribbon tweeter. It's unique aluminium construction leaves it 'as light as a human hair'.

The powered coated aluminium bars at the bottom of the speaker. The side vented enclosure makes it lot easier to position the speaker in any room.

The side vented enclosure makes the ProAc D Forty easy to position.

Please call Audio-T Manchester or email  if you would like to arrange an audition.

T: 0161 8398869

Email: Manchester@audio-t.co.uk

Projector Event Coming Soon!

Audio-T Brentwood is happy to announce that we will be holding a projector event running from Thursday 20th - Saturday 23rd June.

We have 2 demonstration rooms which will be accompanied by Epson, JVC and Sony. We will also be supplied new screens from the lovely guys at Cyberscreens for this event.

We will be having 2 Epson projectors (Models to be confirmed at a later date) in our smaller demonstration room on a 6ft screen and in our larger demonstration room we will be showcasing a JVC and a Sony on a larger 9f screen.

Also all being well we will have the Sony 4K projector here also to demonsrate which is worth a visit in itself!!

Snacks and beverages will be available and all representatives will be on the Thursday to answer any of your questions that you have!

Offers I hear you ask?

Well we will be teaming up with the companies in question and offering some wonderful offers over the course of the 3 day event which will include offers such as free 3D glasses... discounts on AV equipment purchased with any projector and much much more.... oh and of course cake who would say no to cake!

Any questions about the event please do not hesitate to contact us by either e-mail or by phone and we shall see you all soon.

All the best,

Audio-T,

30, Crown Street,

Brentwood

CM14 4BA

01277-264730

brentwood@audio-t.co.uk

Classic Album Evening 6...Tuesday 18th June

Following the success of our fifth Classic Vinyl Evening, we are pleased to announce Classic Vinyl Night number six.

This will be on Tuesday 18^th June and once again will be held at the Fusion Room restaurant, 80 Friargate, Preston, PR1 2ED, at 7pm 7.30 start. 

Click the link to find where we will be http://www.fusionroom.co.uk/

The album we have chosen is Hotel California by The Eagles

Also attending the evening will be Ralph Ward from manufacturer Project & Karl Smith from Spectral furniture.
The idea is simple... just turn up and listen to an album in it's entirety on vinyl with a short break to grab a drink half way in.

If you are interested in joining us please email the store preston@audio-t.co.uk or call us on 01772 883958 to confirm your place

If you require any additional information, please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to seeing you

Ian, Gavin and Andy       

Ortofon Prime!!...Transform your vinyl

MC Rondo Red from Ortofon!

Can you spot the cartridge?

So what is it about this cartridge?

Well, when you look at the retail price of £375 and what this elegant looking cartridge is capable of, you can appreciate its true value.

Made from Japanese hard wood and decorated using a time honoured lacquering technique for that lush finish.

The stylus is a very fine polished elliptical diamond mounted on a aluminium cantilever.

How does it sound?

We have had this fitted to a Michell Gyro SE for number of weeks and also connected to a Rega RP6.

We would describe it as having “full bodied involving sound”.

A smooth presentation would also be a good description.

Who’s it for?

For people ready to take the jump from MM to MC at a low cost.

Can I hear it?

Absolutely.  You can call Audio-T Manchester and arrange to have a demonstration.  T 0161 8398869 Email: Manchester@audio-t.co.uk

More pics below. Thanks for reading.

Disclaimer. No vinyl was harmed during the making of this blog.

Hmmm..Rondo Red.

Yes! Chrome Trooper you too can pose with the Rondo Red....jeeez.

REL Open Day Event at Portsmouth on 16th May

REL Acoustics Ltd., and Audio T Portsmouth are proud to announce an Open Day Event on Thursday 16th of May.    

A representative from REL Acoustics Ltd. the UK's premier manufacturer of Subwoofers and Sub-Bass Systems will be on hand to demonstrate the astounding Gibraltar G-2, and two new subwoofers. the R-528SE and on-wall Habitat 1.

Demonstrations will illustrate what a REL Sub-Bass System can add to your loudspeaker system in terms of low frequency extension, dynamic range and soundstage enhancement. We will have three setups, a quality 2-channel Hi-Fi system, a Streaming music system & a full blown 3D Home Cinema system with HD sound.

We will also go through the correct set-up to show you how to get the best from a REL subwoofer.

Come along and meet the teams and hear how adding a subwoofer can enhance the sound quality of your Hi-Fi or Home Cinema system.

Please contact Audio T Portsmouth to reserve a space!

Full product details and specs are available on the REL website http://rel.net

Leema Acoustics

We are proud to be stockists of Leema Acoustics.

For value, sound quality and sheer ability to drive loudspeakers, this is a hard brand to beat

The elements series is the latest in the line of Leema high performance audio equipment, squeezing class leading audiophile performance into beautiful hand built half size chassis'.

The Integrated Amp is 56 Watts into 8 Ohms and more than 100 into 4 Ohms. Available with an optional inbuilt 24 bit 192 kHz DAC with SPDIF and asynchronous USB inputs. Like all Leema amplifiers, tricky speaker loads are not a worry.

The CD uses a dedicated TEAC audio transport producing extremely low levels of jitter, whilst the DAC posesses extremely very low levels noise, distortion and crosstalk. Dual analogue outputs are available for both balanced and unbalanced applications.

The DAC is 24 bit 192 kHz, with the USB being asynchronous reducing jitter to virtually zero. Inclusion of an analogue volume control enables it to be used as a very high quality pre amplifier.

The Phono is switcheable for use with both moving coil and moving magnet cartridges, posessing astonishing performance for the price.

The Antila IIS Eco CD player introduces many unique technical and ergonomic innovations to combine state-of-the-art performance with surprising ease of use.

Leema's latest "Quattro Infinity Multi-DAC" employs multiple 24 bit / 192 kHz multi-bit delta-sigma data converters, specifically selected for their audio quality.  These are driven from a fully balanced digital data stream.  The result is significantly reduced levels of noise, distortion and crosstalk, thereby producing a breathtakingly real musical performance and a tactile panoramic image.

The drive mechanism with custom servo, features a high quality metal tray and Leema's own control software. State of the art jitter levels, of around 40 pS @ 1 kHz are achieved, significantly improving low level resolution.  The Antila IIS Eco provides even higher levels of performance to maintain its position at the forefront of high-quality CD playback.

Finally, as with other Leema components, the new Antila IIS Eco offers eco-friendly low power standby mode.

New Clearance Items Added

We have just added some fantastic micro systems from Pioneer and Onkyo to our clearance list. So check our web site today for some bargains.

Brighton Vinyl Roadshow Saturday 13th April

We enjoyed a busy day for our Vinyl Roadshow event on Saturday 13th April.

Great to see many of our regular customers, and some people visiting us for the very first time.

Rob from Rega joined us for the day and was on hand to demonstrate the fine new Rega Elicit amplifier and Aria MM/MC Phono pre amp. Also on demonstration, and now in stock is the new Rega Couple 2, RCA Interconnect.

Many thanks to those of you who joined us, and we hope the records you treated yourselves to are living up to expectations.

New Rega Couple 2 Interconnect in stock

Couple 2 Interconnect This Rega designed cable is manufactured to the highest standard to perfectly complement any audio system. Offering the perfect combination of the highest quality pure copper signal conductor and ultra flexible outer shield, the Couple2 maximises signal transfer whilst providing uniquely high levels of quality and performance. Couple2 utilises purpose designed Rega gold plated phono plugs. The signal pin and screening clamp are joint-less by design keeping the music signal pure. The plugs employ an outer locking sleeve to clamp to your amplifier phono sockets. Simply loosen off the silver sleeve before fitting then tighten once connected to maximise contact and performance..

How Much Better Can a Headphone Amplifier Get?

We took delivery of the long awaited Sennheiser HDVD 800 Headphone amp yesterday, and what can I say.......

Having heard it in action at the Bristol Show I was very keen to get my hands on one for the shop, needless to say that as soon as it came through the door we were like kids at Christmas.. although we did treat the boxes with a little more care!

With several inputs available for direct connection to your source components, we decided to connect it to our Cyrus CDXT transport with a digital co-ax. The Sennheiser HD700s were close to hand so they were the first headphones we tried on the amp..... they are still plugged in!

Performance wise it is simply stunning, it's hard to explain but they don't sound like headphones?

One of the first customers that listened to the system was shocked and asked "how much better can it get?"...

When you realise what your headphones could sound like, it will most likely push you into purchasing some sort of headphone amplifier and hopefully you will see the benefit and use your headphones a lot more in the future.

We have many customers that exclusively use headphones, whether it be for space restrictions or domestic harmony! But more often than not headphones have always been second choice... well things could change...

Please feel free to call in with a favourite CD and have a listen for yourself.. you will be amazed!

For more details on the amp here is the link to the Sennheiser page http://en-uk.sennheiser.com/headphone-audio-amplification-hdvd-800-acoustic

Price - £1499.95

Pioneer XC-P01DAB Micro System

We've just taken delivery of this new compact two box hi-fi system from Pioneer and our first impressions are very positive.  It looks elegant and understated with brushed aluminium front panels and is well equipped with the separate CD player incorporating a WMA MP3 WAV USB input for iPod/iPhone connection and a 192kHz 32 bit DAC.  The receiver is no slouch either pumping out 75 watts into 4 ohms from it's class D stereo amplifier.  There's a DAB/FM RDS tuner and optical and coaxial digital inputs, ideal for TV or STB connection, as well as two analogue inputs to complete the comprehensive set of facilities on offer.  All this for £399.95! Just add a pair of Monitor Audio BX1 or BX2 for a great compact system ideal for a smaller room or as a second system for kitchen, dining room or bedroom.  

Why not pop in and take a look at the Pioneer XC-P01DAB or give us a call to book a demonstration.

The Spendor D7 Loudspeakers Now In Stock

The Spendor D7 delivers music with a fresh vibrant realism that conventional loudspeakers cannot match. This new level of performance is the direct result of important Spendor innovations.

The Spendor LPZ tweeter is built around a stainless steel front plate that forms an acoustic chamber directly in front of the lightweight diaphragm. The phase correcting microfoil equalises sound wave path lengths whilst generating a symmettrical pressure environment so the tweeter operates in a balanced linear mode. The D7 mid-bass drive unit has an advanced EP77 polymer cone, whilst the low frequency drive unit uses a bonded Kevlar composite.
The latest fifth generation Spendor Linear Flow port features a twin-venturi, tapered baffle element working in harmony with Spendor's proven dynamic damping, asymmetric bracing and rigid plinth mountings.

Come in and have a listen.